Trek

Speed Concept 9.5

2015

2015 Trek Speed Concept 9.5

Real-world testing gives you real-world results with Trek's Speed Concept 9.5. Its lead just got a little larger with a US-made carbon frame that uses slippery Kammtail tubing. Those tubes are lighter, stiffer, and more aero than traditional designs, even in cross winds. On this rocket, nothing was overlooked: internal cable routing, hidden quick releases, and built-in brakes, computer sensors, even integrated storage, and computer mounts are all designed for aerodynamic speed. And, it's one of the most adjustable bikes available, so dial in the perfect tuck and push out every watt. Of course, the 9.5 is built for with top-end specs, with 11-speed Ultegra, carbon TT bars and frictionless Race Lite wheels.

No doubt this bike is fast and I love mine. However, there are a few things that could be improved. Adjusting the rear brakes (which I have to do often) is a royal pain as one has to take off the speed fin. So when you are rolling into transition on race day and your rear brakes lock up (as mine have done numerous times) just hope you have a knowledgeable mechanic on site. The other major issue I have had is with travel. The bike will not fit into a regular bike box. It only goes into one of the huge Tri All cases because of the aero bars. So if you travel a lot to races, this is something to consider. Finally, the aero bottle system Trek recommends (Bontrager) is hopeless -- it only takes a regular bike bottle, which means one has to sit up to drink all the time = defeats the purpose of aerodynamics altogether, and the computer mount is behind one's line of vision so one has to look up and back to see it. The only aero bottle that actually works is the X lab torpedo.

Wow, this bike is fast. Crosswind, headwind, tailwind, it doesn't matter. Got this bike as a present for my Ironman race, rode the course for the first time and average went up 2 mph. Great design, great bike all around. The rear brake could be easier to adjust, but for someone who loves to work on bikes, it's just right. The bike works better with the new D3 wheels from Bontrager, those wheels are fast, light, and stiff!